O'Leary says Troup, Hodges snubbed

College Gridiron 365

December 11, 2009

UCF coach George O'Leary disagrees with his peers.

O'Leary said senior DT Torrell Troup deserved a spot on the all-Conference USA first team. Instead the league's coaches awarded Troup a spot on the conference's second team. O'Leary said Troup's strong play made it possible for junior DE Bruce Miller, senior DE Jarvis Geathers and senior LB Cory Hogue to earn spots on the first team.

"Coaches look at stats instead of looking at everything else on tape, and I think Torrell got caught up in that," O'Leary said. "I think he's the reason those other guys that made first team made it. There were two guys on him all the time."

Instead, the award went to Houston junior WR James Cleveland. Cleveland set a Conference USA single-game record with 19 receptions in the league's championship game.

O'Leary pointed out Hodges had a major impact on the Knights, posting a 7-2 record as a starter.

Quick hits

Rutgers joins UCF as a team that felt snubbed when all-conference teams were announced. Scarlet Knights junior OT Anthony Davis and senior CB Devin McCourty earned first-team All-Big East honors. Senior WR Tim Brown was named to the All-Big East second team.

Rutgers and UCF both are scheduled to arrive in St. Petersburg Tuesday.